New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-28
A DIsGRAcEFUL POSSIBILITY.

n etIduStly oA'Sa~ ~PF~~~~ -
"Thc Herald a journal VIII Oh has better
claims than any other to be reg rded as the
organ of the Administration. Apparently 1t
means that Garland the counsel OF the VIZ
GINA regulators, is now to be PERM ted to
pack the Supreme Court as far as President
Cleveland has the power to shape Its future
action. in the Joint interest of Virginia re-
pudiators and the Pan-Elecuic jobbcrs. 1t
was a shameful thing that the AL OF ney-Gen-
eral of the United States was allowed to APP
pear before the Supreme Court pleading for
Reputation of bonds, part OF which were
held by the United States. 1t was still
more shameful thing that the same Attorney
General, having taken a large block Of stock
as a gift, in consideration of his official and
personal countenance of sch me to break
down patents issued by the United States,
and having pocketed large sums by allowing
his opinion to be advertised favoling The
company in which he was interes ed, was
then suffered to involve the Unitc1 States
Government as party in suit for the pr'-
vate gain of ring of Democratic politicians.
But the climax of dlsg ace would be reached
if the Administration of which this same
Garland continues Attorney-G neral, should
select Judge of the Supreme Court for the
purpose of reversing decision against the
Virginia regulators, and for the purpose OF
helping the telephone jobbers.
There does not seem to be much room for
doubt that this audacious step is meditated.
"The Herald points out that the Supreme
Court was almost equally divided on the Fir-
gnia case, and that Judge Woods. whose
place is now vacant. was one of the majority |;
that the other Judges, If remaining of the
same opinion, are equally divided and that
a reversal of the former decision may be ex-
pected, if the Judge appointed by President
Cleveland proves TO be on the side OF the
rcpudiators. Then the ar icle sets forth the
very States Rights doctrine on which the Re-
bellion was based, as sufficient reason for re-
fusng to interfere with the sovereignty OF
Virginia, if that State pleases to repudiate
its honest debts
The Judge to be selected will not only have
the opportunity of enabling the A torney-
General to earn a large fee as counsel for the
regulators, when the case comes up again,
il he can finally get favorable decision but
he may have to pass upon the Governments
suit, which involves the vaiility of the Bell
patents, and consequently the value of the
Pan-Electric job. In the latter scheme. At
torney- General Garland Is associated with a
powerful body of Democratic politicians near
" all of whom Pres dent Cleveland has dis
tinguished by important poinmcnts or by
especial marks of confidence and favor. 1t
would be scandal far surprising in shame
fulness any other in the history OF our Gov
erpment if this ring of coirupt officeholders
should be helped by the selection OF Judge
of the Supreme Court Yet selection to
serve the Virginia repudiators would be ex-
oeedingly apt to serve the Pan-Elec:ric job
bcrs also, espec ally if the advice of the At
torney-G General has any weight with the
President